Golden Orchard Stables ⋮ WIP Welcome

Welcome to Golden Orchard Stables! We have been an established member of this amazing community for several years now. Our goal as a competitive and breeding stable, is to compete and breed exceptional horses with great temperaments and traits, fantastic movement and beautiful, correct conformation. We have raised, ridden and competed with horses for almost as long as we can remember. We compete in several equestrian events including Dressage, Eventing, Show Jumping, Show Hunting and Flat Racing. This is where we hope to share updates about our stable, including news and updates about our family, our team and our horses. Enjoy your visit!

Here you will find links to all of our posts, organized so that they're easy for you to find and enjoy!

Leah grew up in Appaloosa Plains with her mother and father. She grew up in a small house near town, overlooking the river valley below and the horse ranch and equestrian center therein. As a child, Leah dreamed of having her very own horse and being able to ride anywhere she pleased. She thought her dreams of riding a horse would never come true, until she met Brandon Martell. He was an outgoing boy of ten and she was a rough-and-tumble tomboy of eight. They became fast friends. Brandon's father owned one of the largest horse ranches in Appaloosa Plains. Leah would often go to Brandon's house and from there to the ranch where she could watch him at his lessons and spend some time around the horses. Brandon's father, had taken and great liking to Leah and could see how much she enjoyed the horses. It didn't take much for Brandon to convince his father to pay for Leah to have riding lessons. Over the next several years, Leah excelled in her riding lessons and began competing alongside Brandon. As a teenager, she continued her equine education and competing. She also worked as a stable hand at the ranch where she learned a great deal about horse care. When not at the stable, she worked hard to earn top grades and graduated high school in the top of her class and was gladly accepted into the prestigious Bridgeport University with Brandon. Before going off to college, she and Brandon made it their goal to own and operate their own horse ranch together after college graduation. Leah and Brandon have been married and have owned and operated Golden Orchard Stables now for several years. They have three amazing children: Liam, Piper and Bailey. Their family and stables keep them busy, but they couldn't be more happy!

▩ BRANDON MARTELL

Brandon grew up in Appaloosa Plains with his father, Richard Martell. Richard Martell owned one of the largest horse ranches in Appaloosa Plains. As a child, Brandon grew up in and around the world of horses. His first lesson was an unofficial one on his father's favorite gelding Rhombulus ('Ramen'). From an early age, Brandon volunteered his time helping out at the stables. Richard Martell encouraged his son's love of horses and his work ethic around horses toting it as a character building and enhancing experience. He began competing in Youth Hunter Under Saddle and Hunt Seat Equitation and Versatility when he turned eight. It wasn't until he was ten that he met Leah. They met at a function of his father's, became fast friends and have been inseparable ever since. Leah would often come with Brandon to the stables where she could watch him at his lessons and spend some time around the horses. Richard Martell had already taken a great liking to Leah and could see how much she enjoyed the horses. It was Brandon who convinced his father to pay for Leah to have riding lessons. Brandon enjoyed having a friend with whom he could share his love of horses and compete with. Brandon continued his riding and competition career throughout high school. As a teenager, Richard hired both Brandon and Leah to be stable hands to help them both gain invaluable experience and to earn money for doing what they both enjoyed. Brandon continued to compete at a local and national level, and did well in competition. He also continued to do well in school, earning top grades, scholarships and his acceptance into the prestigious Bridgeport University. Before going off to college, he and Leah made it their goal to own and operate their own horse ranch together after college graduation. Leah and Brandon have been married and have owned and operated Golden Orchard Stables now for several years. They have three amazing children together and a fun team of trainers and riders. He's looking forward to many more years!

▩ OUR CHILDREN

LIAM MARTELL

He's the oldest of the three children. Liam is an incredibly smart boy, but is also quiet and a little reserved. While he loves spending time with his family and his friends, you're much more apt to find Liam in a quiet corner of the barn, completely engrossed in the latest mystery novel to hit the shelves. His first and most favorite of all the stable's horses is Jumi, his very first pony. With growing older came his graduation from competing with Jumi to competing with Dottie, the sturdy Swiss Warmblood mare. He loves to compete in Eventing and has had some amazing success with Dottie. They've become quite the pair.

PIPER MARTELL

She's the eldest daughter of Brandon Martell and Leah Harrington. Piper doesn't fall under the stereotypical middle child category. If anything, she's so much like her outgoing father and independent mother that people tend to mistake her for being the oldest of the three. She loves nothing more than to spend time with friends, listen to music and spend all the time she can around horses. Her first experience with competing was with Pip, a stout little Chincoteague mare with a heart of gold. She has since joined her brother in competing with more advanced horses, but still adores spending time with Pip whenever she can.

BAILEY MARTELL

The youngest of the three. She loves to follow her older sister and brother around. Her siblings are patient with her, but at times there's just too much of an age difference and she finds herself left behind. She's daddy's girl and when her brother and sister won't play with her, she knows that Dad will always be there for her. She loves to entertain and make everyone around the stable laugh with her antics. She hasn't been competing for as long as her brother and sister, but that doesn't mean she's not up to the challenge. She loves her little mare Ticaboo, and together they can accomplish anything.